Grading machine



GRADING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2l, 1941 Oct. 24, 1944. A. G. B. METCLF GRADING MACHINE Filed June 2l, 1941 SSheetS-Sheet 2 PAQ R%% GRADING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 eef Patented Oct. 24, 1944 2,360,884 l GRADING MACHINE Arthur G. B. Metcalf, North American H Milton, Mass., assignor to olding Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 21, 1941, Serial No. 399,087

v8 Claims.'

'Ihis invention relates to grading machines such as are used to grade shoe y other blanks of stock used inthe manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to the well-known Nichols type of grading machines illustrated in a series of patents granted to Elmer P. Nichols,

soles, taps and` Leander A. Cogswell, and'James W. Johnston, of

which the Johnston Patent No. 2,187,304, dated January 16,1940, may be referred to as an example. A characteristic feature of such grading machines is that jeach blank is measured and graded in accordance with the thickness of the thinnest spot ofthe blank, or of a selected area of the blank, as determined by the detecting and measuring devices.

There are various kinds of grading operations performed by different species of grading mechanisms, and the term grading as established in this art, is a generic term' and includes evening or skiving the blank grade or thickness of its or marking each blank with a character indicating its thickness grade, indicating on a visual indicator the grades of the several blanks, and sorting or distributing the blanks in accordance with their grade measurements. Two or more species of grading mechanisms may be and commonly are contained in one machine and the term grading is used herein in its generic sense unless some particular kindof grading is specified. Whatever may be the kind or kinds of grading to be performedA thev appropriate grading mechanism or mechanisms are adjusted through setting as a whole down to the f thinnest spot, stamping f' range of thickness measurements which the machine is capable of measuring. Although it is possible to compensate for-such errors, either by elaborate geometrical means or mechanically, as shown for example in United States Patent No. 2,180,591, both methods are complicated and add appreciably to the cosi; of manufacture of the machine, the latter method being subject to the further objection that it increases appreciably the mass of moving parts. Improved apparatus overcoming the aforementioned objectionable out necessitating adjustmeni; or substitution of and transmission apparatus in response to and in accordance with the thickness grade of each blank as determined by the detecting and gauging or measuring device, which acts on each blank as successive blanks are passed one by one through the machine. The measurements are usually made in terms of irons (1/43 of an inch), and the measurement transmitted to the grading devices is usually the thickness measurement in irons or fractions of irons which is nearest to but not greater than the thickness of the thinnest part of the blank as determined by the measuring device; In the machine herein illustrated two types of grading mechanism are shown, namely a visual indicator and an evening Vor skiving mechanism, but it will be understood that additional or different species of grading mechanisms might be used, such as stamping or marking mechanism or distributors, and all such' species are within the scope of the claims.

Grading machines of the aforesaid type usually include measurement transmitting devices which involve translating a linear dimension or movement into a rotational or angular movement, thus introducing the usual cosine error, the magnitude of which depends upon the degree of amplification of the transmitted measurement and y the.

parts, etc., is shown for example in my copending application Serial-No. 366,853, filed November 23, 1940. f

The aforementioned arrangements are purely mechanical and have certain disadvantages in-A herent in such devices. For example, the measuring and grading mechanisms are mechanically interconnected, which involves rather complicated linkages and transmissions exerting more or less disturbing reactive forces upon the several component mechanisms introducing unavoidable bulkiness and limiting the grading speed which can be attained. 1

Systems of this type are improved according to my copending application Serial No. 389,854, led April 23, 1941, by separating 'so far as mechanical force transmission is concerned, "the measuring and grading mechanisms by introducing a member controlled by and responsive to the measuring mechanism and a grading control mechanism which has its own power supply and which is correlated to the controlled member `for the purpose of moving the grading mechanism into proper positions after that position has been determined by that member.

'Ihe principal object of the present invention is further to improve systems of this type by continuously correlating the measuring and grading mechanisms to proportionate` settings, the position of the controlled derived from corresponding positions ofthe controlling, measuring or detecting mechanism without any mechanical force transmission therebetween.

In another aspect, the invention has `the object of providing a grading mechanism having tions determined by such'positionsv ofthe measuring mechanism whichcorrespond toextreme, v as for example minimum values of the article to be measured. According to a further aspect of the invention,l the grading mechanism is not, at`

the end of the measuring operation, set to a certain value determined at `some time during grading mechanism being.

blank grading machines of the type described 414 which operates a control switch 412 (Figs. 1 and 2) and is adjustably mounted on a rod 418 (Fig. 2) pivoted'at 419. `After having passed the measuring rolls, the leading edge of the blank encounters a start grader feeler (114a operating a switch 412a (Fig. 3), and is then by the conveyor delivered to the rolls 4 and 11a of the grad- Ving device G. The start grader feeler 4111i is adjustably fastened to a rod 168 rocking on shaft 55 (Fig. 2).

herein by way of example itis especially' easy to provide for measuring of only a certain preselected portion of the blank.

Furtherobjects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following `description and the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a grading machine described by way of example, including the electrical. circuit; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of a grading machine schematically shown in Fig. 1, as constructed in accordance with the present invention and including a `grading mechanism;

and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

The machine to be described by way of example of a device according to the invention comprises several apparatus groups, indicatedas follows in Fig.,1. The blanks S are supplied 'to the machine proper bya feeding arrangement F, they then pass through a measuring device M, and are graded by a gradingmechanism G; measuring and grading devices are correlated by a transmission apparatus C.

Feeding arrangement and drive- The blanks S, as for example shoe soles, are positively delivered to the measuring device M by a pair of continuously driven feed rolls l1, 1a (Figs. 1 and 2). Theseblanks may be automatically supplied to the feed rolls by appropriate arrangements, as for example from a hopper from the bottom of which theyY proceed forwardly one at a. time. "Such a .feeding arrangement is, for example, ydescribed inthe above-mentioned copending rapplication'. Serial No. 366,853, but not shown in detail herein, since the feeding of the blanks is not an essential feature of the present invention. YIn the embodiment herein described it is assumed that the blanks are'fed by hand, an interlocking device with hook 1b (Fig. 2) preventing the feeding ofy a new 'blank before the' one just measured has been discharged. Hook 1b is lifted by a mechanism to be described below with-reference to the grading mechanism. The side walls 1c of feeding platform 1d can be adjusted to the width ofthe blanks by means of a screw spindle on hand wheel le.

The blank then proceeds through the measuring deviceM with calipering rolls 2 and 2e, which device will be described in detail below. Upon emergence from these rolls, the blank is confined between a presser bar 3 (Figs. 2 and 3) and nected by continuously .driven main shaft The conveyor chain 3a is driven byv a sprocket wheel (not shown) at the rear of the machine, on a transverse shaft 181! (Fig. 2), on which is also fixed a second sprocket wheel 1801 conl a chain 1811c with a sprocket wheel fast on shaft 21 (Fig. 2) of the lower skiving roll 4a. Shaft 21 also has xed to it a large gear wheel 185 (Fig. 2) which is driven by another gear wheel 18B fast on shaft 181. Shaft 181 isthe of the machine.

181 has also fixed to it a gear (not shown) driving shaft 192 of the upper skiving roll 4 (Fig. 2). The upper horizontal stretch of the conveyor chain 3a occupies a groove or The main shaft 25 channel las of the bed piatelea `(rig. 3) which so that 2) is journaled in'boxes supports the chain. The end of this plate toward the measuring devices has a narrow extension between the two calipering casters, its free end projecting close to the feed rolls I and 1ck the horizontal stretch of chain 3a is supported throughout approximately its entire length,v as more fully shown in United States Patent No. 2,187,204.

, The' shaft 133 of the upper feed roll 1 (Fig. 211 sliding in vertical ways provided on the frame of the machine, these boxes being yieldingly urged downwardly by springs 212. The upperends of these springs bear against adjustable abutment screws 214.

4() The continuously driven shaft of the lower feed roll 1a .is jcurnaled in fixed bearings on the frame of the machine and carries gears which mesh with driving gears on shaft 133 of the upper feeding roll.

Measuring device.-`From feeding rolls 1, 1a the blank' passes, vas above mentioned, between the calipering rolls i2, 2a of a measuring mechanism. The measuring mechanism herein shown by way of examplejislikewise described in detail in copending application 'Serial No. 366,853, so that being supported on a a continuously driven conveyor chain 3a passing 65 Onits Way between feed rolls`1, 1a and measuri links are journaled, forms a four-bar parallel ing rolls, the blank passes a stop grader feeler and 122 and the it is herein only .necessary to describe it as far as it is essential tothe present invention.

The measuring mechanism 'M comprises a pair of yokes (Fig. 3) mounted on frame j for travel transversely thereof on four races with balls 94 running in 'grooves 95 and `Sli of frame and caliper yokes, respectively (Fig. 3).

rThe yokes havelower -calipering rolls 2a, upper calipering rolls 2, and ,edge rolls 1.01, these rolls `bracket which is mounted on its yoke for rotation about a vertical axis and permits up and vdown movement of the upper calipering roll`2, on a spindle 1115 which chine frame. uSpindle springs 11.0 arranged between collars 1119 of spindles and rests `101 of yokes 90,(Fig. 1) .urge rolls' 2 downwardly against the blank, and ythe edge rolls 1111 are urged inwar'dly vbysp'rings 1.16, (Fig. 3).

Spindles 1'05 .carry at their upper ends threewheeled rotatable carriages .125 running on grooves 124 of a transverse .measuring Abridge 120 (Figs. 1, 2 andvB) which, together with links 121 machine framey to which these l n y projects upwardly through appropriate slots of the malnkage'system. VBridge to the path of the calipering yokes, irrespective of |20 is at all times parallel its upward and downward movement following the thickness variations of a blank S passing betweenrolls 2 and 2a. The spindles |05 can move upwardly through carriage |25 without lifting the latter, but downward movement of either spindle under the influence of the abovementioned spindle springs urging the rolls 2 downwardly against the blank, will be transmitted to bridge |20, which cannot be lifted, or

. held in position by spindle |05 andthe calipering rolls.

The downward movement. of the bridge |20 affects a vertical push bar |34 mounted in guideways in the frame. The upper end of the bar |34 has a flat head |36 (Fig. 3) engageable with a roller |31 mounted on bridge |20. The lowe'r end of the bar |34 has teeth |40 which mesh with pinion 4| on `shaft |42 (Fig. l). The pinion |4| is secured to gear |43 which meshes with the teeth of rack 444, which constitutes a switch control bar and is slidably mounted in suitable guideways of the/frame. A tension spring 463 (Fig. l) urges the bar 444 toward the left of Fig. 1, consequently holding the head 36 of bar |34 against the roller |31 of bridge |20, thus eliminating play within the` transmission mechanism.

During the measuring of the blank by the calipering rolls the two spindles |05 will move up and down in response to differences in thickness of diierent parts of the blank but owing to the fact that (due to the arrangement of spindle |05) only downward movementis transmitted to the bridge |20 and associated parts, the control bar 444, constituting a' setting mechanism, can only be adjusted in response to successively thinner spots encountered b-y the calipering rolls.

Movement of the bar' 444 to the right (Figs. l and 2) is in direct proportion to the maximum downward movement of the calipering roll 2 and hence corresponds to the measurement of the thinnest part of lthe measured blank. Since it is desired to preserve only the `thinnest measurement, corresponding to the maximum movement of bar 444 to the right of Fig. l, means are provided to lock bar 444 against movement during the period required to measure and grade soles passing through the machine, as follows.

The frame wall has a chamber |35 (Fig. 3) through which the left-hand end (Fig. 1) of bar 444 projects. A block |45 is mounted within this chamber and has tapered inner wall surfaces indicated at |50 (Figs. 1 and 2), rollers 5| being interposed between the inclined surfaces |50 and the adjacent faces of the bar-|444. Small leaf springs |52 (Fig. 2) normally hold the rollers |5| against the inclined surfaces |50, thus lockl ing the bar 444 against movement toward the left 'of Fig. 1 so long as therollers are in contact with the inclined surfaces and the upper and inner faces of the bar 444.

In order to release the bar 444 it is merely necessary to disengage the rollers from the inclined surfaces, and to this end there is provided a release bar |55 (Figs. 1 and 2), the lower edge of which has teeth |56 meshing with pinion |51 fast to the inner end of stub shaft |58. The outer end of shaft |58 carries an arm |59 which towardk ythe leftin response to thicker areas of the sole,

is pivotally connected to link 51. Link 51 is normally held downwardly by spring 58 (Figs. 1 and 2) and thus maintains the locking mechanism ineffective so long asvthe start grader feeler 4|4a (Figs. 1 and 2) is in lowered position. It will be noted that in. this position the release bar |55 is held in engagement with the rollers |5| sol that they permit the control bar 444 to be moved by spring 463 to the left of Fig. 1, to a position determined by the position of bridge |20.. When the start grader feeler 4|4a is raised by a sole passingY through the machine, the rock shaft 55 isv rotated, raising link 51 and causing withdrawal of the release bar |55 from the rollers |5|, and locking the bar 444 against movement toward the left of Fig.` 1, minimum measurement detected by the caliper.- ing rolls 2, 2a. So long as the f'eeler 4|4 is maintained in elevated position, the bar 444 remains locked for unidirectional. movement.

It will be 'understood that the movement of bar 444 is directly proportional to the thickness of the thinnest spot ofthe marginal blank area as determined by either of the two calipering devices. This movement of switch control bar 444 may be several times the corresponding movement of the calipering rolls 2, depending on the gear ratios of the transmitting mechanism.

Arm |59 also operates a switch 4|2il which is closed when feelerv 4|4a is raised and opens with link 51 and. arm |59 descending.

Grading mechanism- As the forward end of the blank, held by presser bar 3 rmly in engagement with the traveling conveyor 3a, approaches the skiving rolls 4 and 4a, it may marking or stamping wheel of known construcpart of the blank as determined by the measuring mechanism, in the manner described below.

The upper skiving roll 4 (Figs. 1 and 2) is suitbly mounted in bearing boxes 64 (Fig. 2) `to move in vertical ways 61 on the frame of the machine. Each bearingbox 64 is provided upon its top side, as usual in such machines, with a wedge block 65v (Figs. 1 and 2) cooperating with a similar inverted wedge block 66 adjustably secured to the under side of slide bar in detail in the above copending application and schematically indicated The lower skiving roll 4Bv is journaled in bearing vboxes which are also mounted to slide in vertical ways and are yieldingly supported by springs, one of which is indicated 1 and 2. To a bearing box 64 of upper skiving roll 4 `is fastened a link 305 to which is at 306 hinged a two-armed lever 301 pivoted at 308- and a pair of stiiT at 69 in Figs.

with its other end fastened to a rod 309 (Fig. 2)

which .preserves the and the edge of the knife blade 5 (Figs. 1 and 2) now corresponds to the thickness of the thinnest spot of `the blank as determined by the-measuring mechanism and determines the thickness to which the blank will be evented or skived. Thicker areas of the blankwillorce the lower roll 49 downwardly against the pressure of springs 69 ion 411 fixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 412 journaled in bearings on the machine frame (Figs. 1 and 2). At thelower end of shaft 412 is fixed a pinion 413 meshing with a rack bar 414. 'This rack bar 414 is mounted in ways on the machine frame and correlated vto a switch bar 409 which is mounted to slide on ways on the other side of the machine frame. This correlation is provided by gear Vsectors 406 and 408 on a shaft 401 (Figs. 1, 2 and '-3) and meshing with rack teeth on the lower edges of bars 414 and 409, respectively.

The grading bar 63 on the one hand and the switch bar 409 on the other hand are adapted to be driven by an electromotor 500, for example a commutator motor with exciter winding 501, whichis geared to shaft I401 by means of worm wheel 506,`worm 501 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and gear box 508 (Figs. 2 and 3). The motor runs at a high rate of speed, the above-described gear arrangement providing the comparatively low speed at which rods 409 and 414 are to be moved. Also, the motor is comparatively powerful with regard tothe work it has actually to perform, so that it will practically instantaneously attain full speed upon being connected to 'its Icurrent source. A continuously effective brake 511 is provided on motor shaft 512 in order to stop the motor immediately upon discontinuance of energy supply thereto. Due to vthese provisions the transient periods at thebeginning and end of the running periods of the motor will be negligible 'and these running periods themselves as short as possible under any given condition.

The .motor iscontrolled by a series of control switches 412, 4112a land 502, and a series of restoring switches 520, 521 and 522.

The :stop grader lswitch '412 is operated by the above-described stop grader feeler 414 which .is pivoted at 531 and whose lever '532 causes contact of switch 'elements 533 and 534 while a blank is beneath the stop grader feeler roll.

`Start grader switch '4129- is 'operated by arm 159 `of the measuring mechanism and its elements'535 'and 536 remainfin contact so long asa sole Ais beneath start grader feeler 414e.

Control switch 502 isrnounted on a sleeve sliding on switch bar 40!! vand urged by spring 541 'towards a stop 542 of the 'bar (Figs. land 2) This control switch '-502 has a l'contact element 543 which is xed to sleeve 540 whereas a movable Contact element 544 is placed opposite switchcontrol bar 444 and makes contact with element 543 as soon astouched by bar 444; switch 502 is,V

like switches 412 and 412% of the so-called microswitch type. It will be understood that the various switch elements are properly insulated from their support and that `flexible wire connections are provided leading to switch 502 which during operation moves relatively to the machine frame and cor'relatesthe controlling member 444 Ywith controlled members 53,409,414.

The three control switches 412, 412a and 502 are connected in series between current supply line a and motor terminal II, in a circuit a-412 412a502-.II.

The restoring position shown in 524 with terminals c, d, four contact elements 525, 520, 521, 528 fastened to but insulated from armature 529, and six pairs of contacts g, h, i, Ic, l, m. n, 0,11, e, f, s.

The start restoring switch 521 has an actuator 551 cooperating with finger 552 of grader link 30.5 and two normally open contacts 553, 554. Downward movementof link 305 depresses actuator 551 and momentarily depresses switch element 553 to make contact at 554, whereas further downward and upward movement of 305 have no effect upon switch 521.

The stop restoring switch 522 has a fixed contact 556 Vand a lmovable contact 551 which are normally closed. An arm 558 fixed to bar 414 opens this switch if the bar reaches a certain point in its movement towards the left in Fig. 1.

The restoring switches lare connected as follows. The start restoring switch 521 normally separates contact r and solenoid terminal c oi switch 520 from line terminal b. The stop restoring switch 522 normally connects contact q of switch 520 and solenoid terminal d to line terminal a. Contacts g, 11,1) of the restoring switch 520 are connected to motor terminal II; contacts l and a are connected to line terminal b and motor terminal I; contacts h and o are connected to Aexciter terminal III; contacts 7c and m are connected to exciter terminal IV; contact q is connected to solenoid terminal d and switch. 522; contact 1' is connected to solenoid terminal c and switch 521; and contact s is connected to line terminal b.

Operation- A blank S fed past lifted hook 1b (Fig. 2) into the nip of feed rolls 1, 1a will be seized by these rolls and advanced along conveyor chain 3a, lifting stop grader feeler 414 and closing switch 412.

The blank then arrives between the two ypairs ci calipering rolls, lifting spindle and permitting spring 463, .which is weaker than spindle spring I1111, to lift bridge vby moving switch control bar 444 towards the left of Fig. 1, and rack 134 upwardly; feeler 414e is `at that time not yet lifted so that roller 151 is disengaged perm-itting bar 444 to move in either directon. Switch 412a is still open due to the lowered position of feeler 414a so that motor 500 cannot become energized and any measuring movement will not be transmitted to the grading "mechanism, The lifting vof bridge 120 and the movement of bar 444 towards the left of Fig. 1 permits spring 541 to move switch 502 on its slide 540 towards the left unitn it reaches stop `sin, and the switch itself'v to open.

As soon as the forward -edge of the blank reaches start grader feeler '414-, the Vlocking mechanism --155 is made effective so that from now on only downward movements of bridge 120 (corresponding to diminishing blank thickness) will be transmitted to switch control ba: 444. Switch 4122L is closed by the upward movement of link 51.

It will lbe noted that the distance between rolls 2, 2a and feeler 11M-determines a non-graded length of forward end of the blank and that this length can be varied by adjusting the position of feeler 1414a on rod 69.

switch 520 is normally in the Fig. l and includes a solenoid.

ner region of the blank (or if the initial thickness is so small that bar A444 is caused to close switch 502), bridge-|20 and rack. |34 will move downwardly, bar 444 will push against switch element 544 and move slide 540 towards the right, closing switch 502 by pressing element 544 towards con tact 543. Switches 4|.2 and 4|2=fl being at this time also closed,.the vmotor will become energized through circuit a-'4 2-l4 I 2a-502-II-50IL- I-b and immediately begin to rotate shaft 401 with gears 506,406 and 408, in clockwise direction (Fig. l). The exciter circuit of the motor is at this stage energized through circuit a-4I2-f- 4|2a-52-llghIII-IVl-lcml-b. Due to this rotation of the gears on shaft'4l'., bars 414 and 63 `will move towards the right and adjust slide bar 63 and hence the grading mechamsm.

This adjustment corresponds to the measurement of the thinnestpart of the blank so far encountered by either of the two calipering de.

vices for the following reason: When bar 444.(Fig. 1) moves, it will close contact 543 by pushing againstswitch arm 544, against the force of spring 54|. cuit a-4|2-4|2a-502-50U-b, and motor 500 will start. The motor, through gear train 50`| 595-408-4051, moves rack bar 409 toward the right. Bar 444 will cease to press against switch arm 544 as soon as bar 469 has moved far enough to the right to allow switch slide 540, urged towards the left of rod409 by spring 54|, to contact stop 542. .As soon as slide 540 is prevented from moving farther to the left on rod 409, arm v544 is released, opening contactv 543 of switch 02, and motor 50 stops. Thus, the distance between stop 542 and shaft 401 will always correspond to the length of that portion of bar 444 which eX- tends beyond shaft.|42, and hence to the blank thickness. It will be noted that the above arrangement renders the correlation of measuring and grading mechanisms independent of the m0- tor speed, since the positions of these mechanisms depend merely upon the position relatively to the frame of stop 542, and since the transient periods following and preceding the closing and opening,l

respectively, of switch 502 are negligible.

The gradingmechanism will thus closely follow the movement'of the measuring mechanism until the rear edgeA of the blank passes stop grader feeler'-4|4, when switch l4|2l will openr and interrupt the current supply .to motor 500, so that the grading mechanism remains from now on-at a position corresponding to the minimum thickness of the measured portion of` the blank.

It will be noted that a length adjacent the rear end ofthe blank, corresponding tothe adjustable distance from 2 to 4|4, will not be graded.

The blank now proceeds between presser bar 3 and conveyor 3a, and when the rear edge of the blank passesstart grader feeler 4| 4a switch 4|2aL will be opened and control bar 444 released for movement towards the left of Fig. 1.

So long as the locking mechanism |50|5| is effective dueto the lifted position of feeler 4|4a, the measurement of successively thinner spots in the blank encountered by the calipering rolls 2 and 2a will be transmitted to the control bar 444 since it is free to respond to any vdownward movement of the calipering rolls 2 whereas any upward movement of rolls 2 in response to thicker regions of the blank will not be transmitted.

The blank next enters between the feeding and skiving rolls 4 and 4EL whose abutment wedge This closes the above-mentioned motor cirinto normal position'and the entire machine blocks 66 werefadjusted by the slide bar 63 according to the ascertained grade measurement.

transmitted through bars 444,409 Vand 414 with the aid of control switch 502v and motor 500. The minimum blankthi'ckness 302 by band son and the blank itself skived or evened down by knifevblade 5 to a uniform thickf ness corresponding to the ascertained measurement of its thinnest spot.

When the trailing end of the blank passes berond the skiving rolls the downward movement of roll 4 causes 1ink305 to descend whereas hook Ib is again lifted permitting the'feeding of another blank. y j

At the same ,time Switch closed, initiating jthe 'following resetting operation.

Switch 52 closes circuit energizing solenoid 524. The solenoid attracts its armature 529 andY changes the connections of the twelve contacts ofl resetting switch 520 to establish the followingy circuits'. l Contacts 1' and s close a holding circuit for'solenoid 524throughv wf522-f'524-r-s-b1 Contacts g, h and l, m are opened and contactsz', kin, o; and p, q`closed', thereby reversing the `exciter winding circuit of motor 500, terminal III'now being not connected to line terminal d, but to line terminal b, in the circuit Since switch 502 is by lthis time open, the motor armature circuit becomes established lthrough a-522-*qp-IIT500-I-b, which connection is the same as that prevailing during the measurement transmission period. The exciter wind-. ing being reversed, the motor will now run backward and return 'bars 63, 414 and 409 into linitial position. n

Switch 502 Amay be closed and moved towards the right by control Abar 444 if a new sole has notv yet been inserted between the calipering rolls 2, 2a, permitting spring 463 to move control bar v444 towards the left of Fig. 1'; this, however, is harmless due to the provision'ofy spring 54|. Y e As soon as Vbars'4l4 and 409 have reached their normal position, arm 558 opens-switch 522 interrupting the lmotor c'ircuitasfwell as the holding circuit for solenoid 524'so that the latter returns 1s resetand ready for another grading cycle.

It will be understood that a mechanism for normally lifting` the calipering rolls, actuated for exampleby the presserbar, maybe provided, as described in my above-mentioned copendingapplication. In that instance, as willnow be understood without further explanation', start and stop graderfeelers or similar apparatus has to be arranged vin such a` manner that the motor circuit is established during the entireperiod when the blank is in the measuring'mechanisml It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A .grading ,machine comprising measuring means for cnti'nuously detecting changes of is indicated on scale 52| is, momentarilyv changes,

adapted to be'adjusted inv accordance with said and motor means controlled by said measuring means for supplying powerl to said grading means to adjust it proportionate to every decrease of thickness towards said minimum.

l2. A grading machine comprising detecting means to measure the thickness grades of blanks of stock passingV therethrough and having a controlling membermoving'in response to decreases of'said grades, grading means for reducing said blanks to a minimum grade after passing through said detecting means, said grading means being adapted to be setin accordance with said grades, a power supply source,- motor means adapted Yfor energization from said source, power transmission means adapted for actuation by said motor means for setting said vgrading means, and means for energizing said motormeans fromsaid source in response'to'each movement of said controlling member for actuating said transmission-means and setting said grading means proportionate to said grade decreases.

3. A grading machine comprising detecting means to measure the thickness grades of blanks of stock passing therethrough, grading means adapted to be Set in accordance with said grades,

a settingY mechanism having a controlling member moved by said detecting `means in accordance with each variation of said grade only in one sense, a power supplyn sourcemotor means adapted `for energization from said source, power transmission mechanism adapted `for actuation by said motor means for adjusting said-grading means, and means for energizing said motormeans from said source in response to veach movement of said controlling member ioractuation of said transmission mechanism andadjustment of said grading means proportionate to the largest of said variations- 4. A grading machine comprising detecting' means to measure the thickness grades of blanks of stock passing therethrough and having a movable controlling memberfollowing only decreases of saidgrades, grading means for reducing said blanks to a minimum grade after passing through said detecting means, said grading means being adapted to be set in `'accordance with said grades, a power supply.source,.motor means adapted for energization from .said source, power transmission mechanism for setting said grading means and adapted for vactuation by said motor means, and means for energizing said motor means from said source under control of the movement oi saidv controlling .member forsetting said grading means proportionate to said grade decreases.

. 5. A` grading machine comprising detecting means to measure the thickness grades oi blanks of stock passing therethrough, grading means adapted to be set in accordance with the thickness grades of said blanks, `a'settin'g mechanism having a controlling member moving in response to said detecting-means. continuously to assume to energize said motor from said source, and means for disassociating said controlling member and said switching means at a position corresponding to a setting mechanism position proportionate to the preceding unidirectional change.

l 6. A' grading machine comprising detecting means to measure the thickness grades of blanks cf stock passing therethrough having a controlling member moving in response to variations oi said grades, grading means adapted to be set in accordance with said grades, an electric power supply source, an electromotor in a circuit including said source, transmission mechanism for adjusting said grading means in accordance with said movement of said controlling member and adapted for actuationpby said motor, normally open switching means insaid circuit arranged to be closed by said movement for energization of said motor, a second normally open switching means in series with said switching means, and feeler means arranged at a certain distance from l'said detecting means and closing said second vswitching means upon contact with a blank, said second switching means conditioning said circuit for energization of said motor upon closure of said first switching means. l

'7. AA grading machine comprising detecting means to measure the thickness grades of blanks of stock passing therethrough ,having a controlling member moving in response to variations of said grades, grading means adapted to be set in accordance with said grades, an electric power supply source, an electromotor in a circuit including said source, transmission mechanism for adjusting saidhgrading means in accordance with said movement of said controlling member and adapted for actuation byV said motor, normally openswitching means in said circuit arranged to be closed'by said movement for energization of said motor, means for disassociating said controlling member and said switching means thereby stoppng said motor upon actuation of said transmission mechanism proportionate to said movement, and means actuated by said grading means positions corresponding to .unidirectional changes of said grades, an electric power supply source, an electromotor in a circuit including said source,

power transmission mechanism for adjusting said grading means in accordance with said grades and adapted for actuation by said motor, normally open switching means in said circuit arranged for movement withsaid transmission mechanism and closure by said controlling member in order for reversing said motor-and resetting'said transmission mechanism upon termination of the grading of a blank.

8. A grading machine comprising detecting means to measure the thickness grades of blanks of stock fed therethrough having a switch control member adapted to progress in one direction to amounts proportionate to the decrease of said grades, grading means adapted to be set in accordance with said grades, a source of electric current, an electromotor in a circuit including said source, transmission mechanism for adjusting said grading means and adaptedfor actuation by said motor, a switch in said circuit normally open and ready to be closed by said control member progressing in said direction, a switch carrier yieldingly supporting said switch and coupled to said motor for moving it in said direction to amounts proportionate to the actuation of said transmission mechanism by said motor, said switch carrier moving said switch away from said control member to amounts proportionate to' said decrease thereby interrupting said circuit and arresting said motor when said grading means is adjusted proportionate to said decrease.

ARTHUR G. B. METCALF. 

